Proposed New Social Creed

[cristianna]

I have copied and pasted the below from UMC's website. There's tons more if anyone wants to read the entire article. You can get the link from the home page.

Does anyone have an opinion about this, in either direction?

I personally think it's something definitely worthy to sit on the table for discussion. In terms of being put to music, I think it could go either way. I would really appreciate hearing how it would be. I think there are areas that offer alot of umph (sp?) and enthusiasm regardless if it's sang or spoken. Although some areas I think could be more tweeked, overall I like it.

United Methodist Social Creed

General Conference to consider new, singable version

By Wayne Rhodes, Editor, Faith in Action


A proposed new Social Creed will be presented to The United Methodist Church General Conference, the denomination’s top law-making body, during its meeting April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. The new creed has been developed by the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) at the direction of the 2004 General Conference in commemoration of the denomination’s first social creed adopted in 1908.

This new creed, if adopted, will be the third Social Creed in the denomination’s history. The current creed was adopted in 1972 following the 1968 union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. “The new Social Creed represents the global nature of the church,” said Bishop Jane Middleton, who took over as chair of the Social Creed Revision Task Force after Bishop Susan Morrison retired. “We participated in consultations in the Central Conferences in Europe, Africa and the Philippines. It was an exciting experience to look at language and theology, and their implications in those contexts.”

The Rev. Neal Christie, GBCS assistant general secretary for Education and Leadership Formation, described the 1908 Social Creed as a “vocal and urgent expression” of public witness to remind Methodists that systemic, social transformation goes hand in glove with growth in personal piety. “The Social Creed reflected our Methodist missional commitments to faith in Jesus Christ as evidenced in social justice,” he said.

Proposed United Methodist Social Creed

God in the Spirit revealed in Jesus Christ,
calls us by grace
to be renewed in the image of our Creator,
that we may be one
in divine love for the world.
And so shall we.

Today is the day
God cares for the integrity of creation,
wills the healing and wholeness of all life,
weeps at the plunder of earth’s goodness.
And so shall we.

Today is the day
God embraces all hues of humanity,
delights in diversity and difference,
favors solidarity transforming strangers into friends.
And so shall we.

Today is the day
God cries with the masses of starving people,
despises growing disparity between rich and poor,
demands justice for workers in the marketplace.
And so shall we.

Today is the day
God deplores violence in our homes and streets,
rebukes the world’s warring madness,
humbles the powerful and lifts up the lowly.
And so shall we.

Today is the day
God calls for nations and peoples to live in peace,
celebrates where justice and mercy embrace,
exults when the wolf grazes with the lamb.
And so shall we.

Today is the day
God brings good news to the poor,
proclaims release to the captives,
gives sight to the blind, and
sets the oppressed free.
And so shall we.

[mont974x4]

I'd have to toss out most of it. The diversity issue would lead to "tolerance" where we can no longer hold people accountable for sins...homosexuality for example. Also, while no one enjoys war, I know I didn't, it is a necessary thing in this world and God Himself commanded it in the OT. This creed also leaves the door open for nature worship. God did place man as a steward over His creation but men's souls are more important than saving the flying squirrels. And, if I had to choose between a man supporting his family or saving a tree..well, I choose the man and his family.

[cristianna]

Hey mont! Good to see you! :wave:

Some of the areas you brought up are the ones I was referring to that I personally would "tweek". (wonders to self it that should be tweak)

[mont974x4]

Hey mont! Good to see you! :wave:

Some of the areas you brought up are the ones I was referring to that I personally would "tweek". (wonders to self it that should be tweak)
Isn't the UMC one of the more liberal denominations?

I figured those were areas you were thinking of, and if we pressed the issues we would be labeled intolerant religious bigots by many people.....but, you get used to it. LOL



What of this verse?
nasb
1Co 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.


Shouldn't any creed be based on this verse, and perhaps verses that clarify this one?

[Speculative]

I like it. No tweaking necessary for me.

Remember, this is a social creed, not a theological one. I see it more as a statement of action--not a statement of belief--we still have the Nicene and Apostles creeds for that.

So, acknowledging the evils of war doesn't have to mean that you don't recognize that sometimes it is necessary, and showing love and tolerance for people of different sexual orientations doesn't require you to endorse their actions, and obeying God's command to be a good steward of His creation doesn't mean you have to worship that creation.

So, it's fine for me.

I'm not sure I'm excited about the idea of singing it, though. I'd prefer it as a responsive reading.

[cristianna]

Isn't the UMC one of the more liberal denominations?

I figured those were areas you were thinking of, and if we pressed the issues we would be labeled intolerant religious bigots by many people.....but, you get used to it. LOL



What of this verse?
nasb
1Co 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.


Shouldn't any creed be based on this verse, and perhaps verses that clarify this one?


It's hard to say if UM is liberal or not. The pendulum's swing varies from church to church.

I like it. No tweaking necessary for me.

Remember, this is a social creed, not a theological one. I see it more as a statement of action--not a statement of belief--we still have the Nicene and Apostles creeds for that.

So, acknowledging the evils of war doesn't have to mean that you don't recognize that sometimes it is necessary, and showing love and tolerance for people of different sexual orientations doesn't require you to endorse their actions, and obeying God's command to be a good steward of His creation doesn't mean you have to worship that creation.

So, it's fine for me.

I'm not sure I'm excited about the idea of singing it, though. I'd prefer it as a responsive reading.

That is an excellent, excellent point!

And I just knew you'd be one who would like it as a reading. :thumbsup:

[silentpoet]

We are not supposed to love the world, the creed is worthless if it contradicts the word of God.

[Speculative]

I don't think the creed is advocating love for the world as is prohibited in the Bible.

The world delights in exploiting the earth's resources for selfish needs, with little concern for the effect on the environment, or the people who live in the areas that are adversely affected.

The world tells us to hate and be afraid of those who are different from us: different skin color, different nationalities, different income status, etc. The creed argues against this by telling us to treat strangers as friends--just like the Word of God did.

The world delights in seeking wealth for itself. The creed joins the Word of God in saying that we are to show concern for the poor and abused and to share our vast resources to see they are taken care of.

The world delights in war and violence as a first means of solving it's problems. The creed joins the Word of God in looking forward to a time when such things are obsolete.

I think the "love the world" phrase in this creed is far more akin to the love that God has for the world in Jn 3:16 than the love of the sinful ways of the world that are condemned by the Word of God, and elsewhere in the Bible.

So I see no contradiction with either the Word of God, nor the Bible in this creed--however, perhaps that phrase could be tweaked to benefit those made nervous by it.

[cristianna]

Hmm, I can see where one could walk away with that impression of "loving the world".

But I took it as to mean to love the world as in those members, saved- unsaved- in limbo, within the world.

[silentpoet]

I just misread it and missed the "divine". I don't particularly care for it, but that may just be a matter of personal taste. I don't like adding a whole bunch of creeds and forms of worship. I am pretty basic in my tastes, that is not a condemnation of such things as this creed. It is just a statement of personal preference coming from my background. I came from a Church of Christ background, so alot of the stuff even in my chosen denomination of Nazarene is a bit off to me.

[GraceSeeker]

I like it. No tweaking necessary for me.

Remember, this is a social creed, not a theological one. I see it more as a statement of action--not a statement of belief--we still have the Nicene and Apostles creeds for that.

So, acknowledging the evils of war doesn't have to mean that you don't recognize that sometimes it is necessary, and showing love and tolerance for people of different sexual orientations doesn't require you to endorse their actions, and obeying God's command to be a good steward of His creation doesn't mean you have to worship that creation.

So, it's fine for me.

I'm not sure I'm excited about the idea of singing it, though. I'd prefer it as a responsive reading.

Having read all of the comments, this is the one that I can most agree with. This is not a theological creedal statement of the propositional truths which we hold regarding God. This is more about Christian ethics and praxis.

The only thing I disagree with is the inference made by others (that Specualtive seems to accept) that this speaks of tolerance for homosexuality. I don't see that in the tolerance statements. Of course, one is free to read into it such a comment, but I don't think it is actually there. However, though I don't believe homosexuality to be an acceptable form for a Christian lifestyle, I can still learn to be tolerant of those who practice the same and have no need to ostracize them from either society or even the church --save not recognizing homosexual marriages nor ordaining homosexuals as clergy. So, the tolerance sections of the creed are acceptable to me.

As far as making it a song: Well, I would have to hear the music. At the moment, I can't imagine it being better as a song than as a reading, but that may have more to do with my ability to imagine than anything else.